Woe Is Me

The hand of God is meeting the needs of people, and those people are meeting each other's needs. — Created using ChatGPT

20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven, for that is how their ancestors treated the prophets. 24 But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." (Luke 6:20-26)

Jesus' sermon of blessings and woes was delivered as he stood on level ground with his disciples and a multitude of people who came to be healed. This enabled many people to get close enough to Jesus to touch him and be healed by the power that emanated from him. While all could hear him, Jesus directed this message to his disciples. We may have come to expect and accept the topsy-turvy worldview that Jesus espoused, but his message was, and remains, radical. Jesus called out the societal inequities that continue to plague our lives. But those Jesus designated as blessed likely didn't, and still don't, see their lives that way. And those whom Jesus cautioned may have been, and still be, angered by the negative implications Jesus assigned to their status and privilege.

Most of us likely see ourselves as in the middle of the extremes Jesus presented - not so poor as to be struggling, but not so rich as to think of ourselves as such. All of us, though, can find sanctuary in Jesus' words. No one is being called to life of destitution, rather, we're all called to live lives that are rich in God - free to fill someone else's cup because we trust that God will ensure that we have enough. The blessedness Jesus speaks over those who have need, is the gift of God's attention and concern. Although this sermon is often referred to as blessings and curses, in actuality, Jesus did not curse anyone. He simply warned his followers against trusting in the temporary things of this life, that we would instead align ourselves with God's purposes. As we, with care and compassion, fill voids and meet needs, we will see our own voids filled and needs met. Then, we will all

experience the fullness of God's blessings.

1 Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

4 Not so the wicked!